Teacher dismissed over refusal to display flag

WTNH Television ^ | 10/16/2005 | Puppage

[Puppage]

(Bridgeport-AP, Oct. 15, 2005 11:20 AM) _ A teacher at Kolbe-Cathedral High School in Bridgeport has been fired for refusing to display an American flag in his classroom.

Stephen Kobasa says he's never seen a new diocese policy on the flag in writing. He says displaying the flag violates a deeply held religious conviction that flags are about separation, assertions of superiority and aggression.

Kobasa says he offered a compromise in which he agreed to display the flag at the start of the school day so students could say the Pledge of Allegiance if they wanted. Then he would remove the flag.

But the diocesan superintendent rejected that compromise.

Joseph McAleer, spokesman for the Diocese of Bridgeport, says it's diocesan policy not to comment on personnel issues.

Kobasa had also appealed directly to Bishop William E. Lori but did not receive a response.

Although he filed a grievance with the diocesan school district, Kobasa said he has no plans to file a lawsuit.

[Tax-chick]

Stephen Kobasa says he's never seen a new diocese policy on the flag in writing.

Then someone should immediately show him a copy, and have him sign a statement verifying that he read it. If he chooses not to comply, ZOT!

[bruoz]

"Kobasa says ... he would remove the flag."

AMF

[mtbopfuyn]

America, love it or leave it. Amazing how so many hate it but fail to ever leave.

[Gay State Conservative]

Get yourself a job at a public school,pal.You'll fit right in!

[WesternPacific]

This is about insubordination.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

A teacher at Kolbe-Cathedral High School in Bridgeport has been fired for refusing to display an American flag in his classroom.

Well good! Thank God for private schools!

Now if this was a government run school system in the U.S. the teacher would be praised, possibly promoted to principal, if he took the U.S. flag down and burned it in front of the students. In a properly equipped lab, while not smoking a cigarette, of course.

[aimhigh]

For being a supporter of one-world government, this guy sure thinks he's king of the classroom.

[seasaidh]

Is this the same Stephen Kobasa?

http://www.al-awda.org/mediacoverageofeventsinct/

(at end of article)

[seasaidh]

Meant at the end of the first section.

[airborne]

He says displaying the flag violates a deeply held religious conviction that flags are about separation, assertions of superiority and aggression.

I wonder which religion he's refering to.

[weegee]

Kobasa says he offered a compromise in which he agreed to display the flag at the start of the school day so students could say the Pledge of Allegiance if they wanted. Then he would remove the flag.

Out of sight, out of mind.

There are those who would like to see all public visible signs of faith disappear as well (nothing in your front yard, no crosses, or t-shirts, or bumper stickers; this goes far beyond "government property"). That secular flag stands for a nation founded on the right to practice a faith without oppression. Look at the history of Europe where a nation was expected to convert from Catholicism to Protestantism and back depending on who was in power.

[FReepaholic]

...He says displaying the flag violates a deeply held religious conviction that flags are about separation, assertions of superiority and aggression. ...

What religion is that? The church of the ACLU?

[weegee]

Karl Marx's Church of Socialism maybe.

[Tactical]

The guy can think what he wants and even spout off about it. But he was hired to teach a class on certain subject matter. The display of the U.S. flag have nothing to do with his desires. Glad to see him get fired!

Let's see remove God from the classroom, then the symbols of America and all you have left are the political views of some idiot like this. Sounds like college!

[FReepaholic]

...Is this the same Stephen Kobasa? ...

Sounds like it.

I'm betting this flag deal is not the first run-in he's had with school officials.

[starfish923]

For being a supporter of one-world government, this guy sure thinks he's king of the classroom.

You are correct. That is his problem.
He views the world from a throne, his own personal throne.

[FMBass]

Seems that Kobasa’s “deeply held religious conviction” is that he is “about separation, assertions of superiority and aggression”.